Blog Entries With Tag: Animas Canada

Right now it seems that it is just the separate CGMS remote that you find in this link as the Animas insulin pump called the Vibe that you see below - has yet to be approved for use here.

The good thing? Once the Vibe is approved (Canada only has the Ping at the moment for sale) - you will be able to use the transmitters without the separate remote (or at least that is what I've read at various places online).

The main thing is - we finally have APPROVAL (an online petition by Nathalia Stanichevsky may have helped push it faster). For those of us who can afford it (either thru' work insurance coverage) or ability to afford out of pocket. We are one more step ahead of the game plan.

I had seen it a few years ago at a diabetic conference - and was quite impressed (the excuses given by the rep as to why it was so slow to come to our country made my eyes role as normal - we're a smaller population than USA, the French/English bit, the list goes on). I even met up with an American that was using it - and she showed how well it worked for her when she was visiting Montreal this summer. I liked the screen - ease of looking at it - just like the Animas pumps are - compared to the Medtronic that I'd tested out earlier in my pumping years (I'm a late bloomer - starting in 2008 after 40+ years of multiple dosage injections).

The good thing is - now we have two systems available to us in Canada (the other is Medtronic). For those of us who are hypo unaware (your blood sugar suddenly drops) or just want to have a better visual of what your blood sugars (BG) are doing - more power to you!

Well, as I type this out, I have Careless Whisper from George Michael playing in the background. It's been almost 2 months now that I disconnected from him - my Animas 2020 pump - in preparation for my holidays I took - where I didn't want him compromised by more s/w issues that my past 2020 pumps have experienced when going thru' the security systems at the airports.

Before I'd left on my holidays, I had finally heard back from Animas Corporation in the USA on my issues that I've been calling them about / blogging about / talking to them since mid-December. I was told by Francis Crane who is Supervisor of Animas Customer Support (lovely lady from Georgia - but your sweet accent doesn't fool me ) I'd have an answer answer on January 28, 2013. I told her I'd be away at that time so she said she would call me when I got back. Of course, as soon as I got back home, I called Ms. Crane, left 2 voice messages over almost a week. When I heard back from her, she could not give me an answer <disappointment>, and that it had been given to someone by the name of Alecia now, in the technical department area, and I would have my answer no later then Friday (Feb 22/13).

That call has never occurred.

My question to Animas Canada - is why did they wipe their hands clean of me - and send me over to Animas Corporation in the USA? I purchased my pump here in Canada, not the USA. It also scares the heck out of me due to T1D's in the USA who have had their pumps "gone bad" replaced with a "reconditioned pump(s)". One such American said that within 3 months - they were given each time a reconditioned PING pump - in the end - they gave up on the pump all together due to continual technical problems and went back to MDI (multiple dosage injections).. Here in Canada, when I had called up about this a few years ago, apparently our laws differ from the USA. Canadians are given a new pump when they receive a replacement - phew. Though, I'm not sure if that is a good "phew" or a bad "phew".

I still to this day - as I posted in my other blogs/discussons on this situation with the Animas 2020 pump - firmly believe that Johnson and Johnson knew full well of the problem well before the issue was made public (when many of us were still under warranty). That with both registered letters that many of us received - that they are admitting culpability in the fact that they DID NOT post anything in their literature or training manuals even after discovering s/w originally developed had the built in "Self-Destruct" sequence of the date versus delivery of insulin.

I still scratch my head as to why, when the issue was known back in "March 2012", and I myself was still under warranty - why my replacement 2020 pump was not a PING - which supposably has no issues - would I be any further ahead with having had that pump I wonder?

The other question that is running around some of our heads these days is also .... how long is an insulin pump supposed to last? Many other pumps made by other pump manufacturers last 10+ years with no issues to the user with dispensing of their insulin coverage.

All I can say is .... SHAME on you big corporations that hold us in your grip - for us to use products that we trust our livelihood on .... Animas Canada / Corporation you know full well that you are in the WRONG.

I'm now going into my third week without my insulin pump, GM (aka George Michael). It's been a challenge this time, compared to the last time I did it in 2010 (for some reason I didn't keep a log). I am frustrated as all heck - as I go up and down - like on a roller coaster ride - but those are more fun - since they are just temporary ups and downs with abit of screaming. You eventually get off - and get on with life and it's regular routine.

I'm finding that I am living by the clock / alarm - for my basal shot (I have split up my Lantus into 2 shots - in AM and PM). I sometimes have forgotten an hour or so later - I have forgotten one of the shots. Kind and experienced MDIer diabetic mates (gag - I used to be one of those) - have told me - "don't worry - you're off by a few minutes or an hour - it won't effect you". BS is what I say to that - maybe for them - but not for this ADH D-gal - who is used to having pretty level BG's that when they do go on roller coaster ride - it's due to inaccurate carb count, hormones, or some other little glitch that sometimes can't be explained.

I now have my android phone set up with alarms - I feel guilty sleeping in (not that I did too often - but when I did - I knew my basal insulin in GM was working away). When I just want to have a little nibble - I have to go and test my BG - which I always did before - but sometimes - I could get away with not doing it - and just do a "guestimate bolus" and usually things were fine. Not so with MDI , in order to maintain my standard of BG level - I have to be constantly thinking of what next - did I miss a bolus - did I / do I?

Eating has become a somewhat of a chore - I feel like my Mum - who eats on time (she should be a diabetic - she's more controlled then I am) - she has no change in her routine or foods that she eats. That is not me - SCREECH - I'm a Bohemian type of gal - I can't live this way of life - I must be freeeeee!!!!

My other option, which I'm surprised isn't giving me sleepless nights - is just to go back onto GM - admit defeat - I can't do MDI. Alright, you ask youselves - why isn't FatCatAnna going to the endo for advise? Frankly, I only go to him for prescription refills - at one point many years ago he actually semi-belowed as to why I was injecting with rapid insulin in his office - when my BG reading he took was high. His thoughts at that time was - you only inject for meals. Oh, and even better, going onto a pump - he was dead set against it - but I went ahead - without his approval (but in end - when it came to purchasing - I needed him signature - by then he realised going from an A1C of 7% to 5.9% in less then 6 months with trial pumps - meant I was doing something right - and it wasn't due to having lows to even out the A1C number).

So, to make a long rant short. A D-mate of mine whose pump warranty ran out the same time as me - and as disgruntled by all of the recent releases - encouraged me to call up Animas Canada - since apparently my scribbles here at Diabetes1.org and other forums where I post made them decide to stand up for themselves. They did - and are now a brand new owner (received the day after they called) of an Animas Ping (and they like it better then their 2020)

I proceeded to call up Animas Canada as they encouraged me to do the same as they did and spoke with Jessica at Customer Care. She very nicely listened to me rant (am I Rick Mercer - I mean I am CANADIAN - just not from the east coast). I explained about what I was doing with MDI while off the pump temporarily due to fear of GM going wonky on holidays like others before him. Told them to check out my blog after I jabbered on - look for my postings in Facebook and Twitter - just to be aware of how serious the problem is with selling a product that the buyer was not aware of - our pumps die December 31, 2015 - plain and simple!

I explained to her - if she wished me to have issues with GM (she kept on questioning me about the component issue from January 3rd Urgent Pump Recall) - then I told her I would gladly put GM back on - go on my holidays. If he is the same as previous Animas 2020 pumps or perhaps a different issue - it IS a SAFEY RISK. I told her, by weaning myself off from GM to relearn MDI due to my distrust with their pumps - I'll be better prepared in my humble opinion. Even perhaps too honest - was my telling her that I'm looking a purchasing a used Medtronic pump as a back up - but so far - Medtronic Canada when I inquired about the safety of that basically warned me against it. So, I await to hear back from Animas Canada on the problem with their Animas 2020 - they'd promised to call back the day I called - but so far - nothing.

So, my fellow MDIer's (thumbs up gang on Twitter) don't panic yet - I am determined to get this MDI sorted out before I leave in a few weeks - this is the reason I started a month prior to departure. I do not want to be a heaping sobbing blob on the floor in a panic as I try to sort out my insulin requirements via pen needle - and ruin my fellow sailors holidays as well as mine. I want to enjoy my holidays - plain and simple - but have to admit - I do wish I had a reliable pump - that I could trust to take on my holidays.

I miss you George Michael - all tucked up in the zip lock bag - safe and sound - battery taken out. Sleep tight until I unzip you in Feburary to start pumping with you again (and hopefully you still function).

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